[From the Cochrane Library: Phosphodiesterase inhibitors are effective in treating erectile dysfunction in diabetic men].

Abstract

Erectile dysfunction is a common multifactorial complication of diabetes mellitus. In recent years, phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors have been introduced in the management of erectile dysfunction. A recent Cochrane systematic review assessed the effects ofPDE-5 inhibitors in patients with diabetes mellitus and erectile dysfunction from 8 randomized placebo-controlled trials (a total of 1759 participants). The duration of therapy was mainly 12 weeks. The weighted mean difference (WMD) for the International Index of Erectile Function (erectile dysfunction domain) at the end of the study period was 6.6 in favour of the PDE-5 inhibitors arm. The relative risk for answering 'yes' to a global efficacy question ('did the treatment improve your erections?') was 3.8 in the PDE-5 inhibitors arm compared with the control arm. Headache and flushing were the most common adverse events, followed by flu-like symptoms, dyspepsia, myalgia, vision disorders and lower back pain. The overall risk ratio for developing any adverse reaction was 4.8 in the PDE-5 inhibitors arm as compared to the control arm. It was concluded that sufficient evidence exists that treatment with PDE-5 inhibitors can improve erectile dysfunction in diabetic men.

• Authors: J V Th H Hamerlynck, S Middeldorp, L Hooft
• Journal: Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde (Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd) Vol. 151 Issue 38 Pg. 2101-4 (Sep 22 2007) ISSN: 0028-2162 [Print] Netherlands
• Vernacular Title: Uit de Cochrane Library: fosfodiësteraseremmers effectief bij diabetici met erectiestoornissen.
• PMID: 17948826 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors

Topics

• Diabetes Mellitus (physiopathology)
• Diabetic Angiopathies (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Erectile Dysfunction (drug therapy, etiology)
• Humans
• Male
• Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
• Treatment Outcome